What's happening to our music?

[Dante DiVongola]

I'm a musician and aspiring music producer and I'm generally not the kind of person who would nitpick at any type of music genre. I'll listen to Faith No More one second, then Tech N9ne the next. However, I'll listen to some of today's punk and pop music and I personally can't say that it appeals to me at all.

I know music is supposed to evolve and it'll never be the same as it was in the past, but are we heading for darker days in our music? The easiest difference to see is probably in country. I know people like Taylor Swift are taking the 'Carter Family' style and running that into the ground, but I don't hear any country stars that sound anything like Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, or Roy Clark anymore either.

To my utmost chagrin, punk kinda changed for the worst too. The punk that some people show me sound like a weird mixture of boy-band pop and some mutated form of punk. I liked it better when an Acid Punk Rock band like The Offspring dominated the scene, had an undeniably catchy rhythm, and actually kept true to the punk rock genre.

You'll get some changes in other genres as well. The metal genres has screamo and some grindcore bands, rap has Lil Wayne, and then there's some dubstep that I really just can't handle too well. There are plenty of other crappy artists that ruin those and more genres, but I don't want a brain hemorrhage trying to remember people I don't care about.

So tell me what you think, Escapists. What's happening to our music?

 

[SadakoMoose]

Well, an "OUR" implies a "WE".
"Who is WE?" Then becomes my next question...
The beauty of the modern age is that we access to so very much, that it becomes far too easy to drown in a sea of garbage. Now that we no longer need a "mainstream", nor truly have one, why not seek out the best?
http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2011/12/limited-edition-justin-bieber-vinyl/
This article explains my position better.
I suppose, if I were upset with the state of my favorite music, I'd merely go on the hunt for something better...

 

[OldKingClancy]

Genre's multiplied and became sub-genre's some are good, some are bad. Stick with what you like and if you hear something new that interests you listen to that as well. If you don't like it just ignore it.

 

[thom_cat_]

Huh?

Music is just as awesome as it always was, but now there's so much of it that you get swept up in all the crap that can also be released.
Genre's split and sway, but the original genre is still there.

COUNTRY :3

 

[Matthew Dunn]

Music is what ever we find appealing and as OldKingClancy mentioned there are many sub genres and people will always argue about what is "Real Music"
All music is real music and some people just don't agree with that

Heres my opinion of good music which ranges from
this: (Paramore) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyGvGEtOwc
some of this: (Whitesnake) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSlSaGcc0QM&ob=av2e
And alot of this : (iwresltedabearonce) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrFTR9fucr8

Personal taste is all that matters

(and to be hypocritical :3): and the removal of Justin Bieber

 

[Gmans uncle]

I feel the only genera I've seen any real improvement in in the last few years would be electronica. I've seen alot of evolution in that genera, I still say it peaked somewhere around...

Spoiler: here

But we've had allot of new talent enter the scene. Also I strongly disagree with you about dubstep, I fucking love the genera with all my heart. there's so much energy in dubstep that you simply don't get from other music, when a good dubstep artist drops the bass YOU FEEL IT and I love that.

 

[Ectoplasmicz]

Its all about knowing where to look. With the access we have to the amounts of music available, we are always going to be thrown some absolute crap, but in there is also some excellent music.

As i said first, if you know where to look, or even just take the time to find some good new music, you will find it.

 

[Berenzen]

Just because you dislike the stylization of some of the music, doesn't mean the music industry is spiraling downward. I see this trend in a lot of older people, they think the older generations of music were better than the current ones. Personally, I think that they're looking through rose-coloured glasses, there were plenty of musicians that absolutely SUCKED in their generation, just they became forgotten, even if they were popular during their time. There are actually very few bands that people recognize that are from the 80s, even fewer than from the 70s, and so on and so forth. It will happen with this generation of music, and further generations of music as well.

The big factor behind this is the fact that people are naturally conservative, in general, people do not like change, so people really like the music that is from their generation, because they grew up with it, and they happen to enjoy it, but because the newer styles of music are different, they dislike them, because it is unfamiliar to their ears and different from what they are used to. The closer the style to the music they grew up with, the more they enjoy it. There will be some bands that older people enjoy from this generation, but in general, I find that most people enjoy the music they grew up with, rather than the music that came afterwards.

As my last point, the songs that typically dominate a 'top 100 rock song' list are played by a very small group of bands. Hell, find a list of the 'top 100 pop songs' and try to remember who the damned bands are. Pop bands don't survive the ages all that well, although some of their songs will.

In 20 years time, most of the bands of today's age will be forgotten, replaced by a bunch of new musicians that have an entirely different style of music, and I for one will not give that generation peace, and complain about it's shoddy music, even if I enjoy some of it. Why should I miss out on the fun?

 

[enzilewulf]

Its getting awesome in my opinion. When dubsteb emerged I was hooked on that, and I think that is a genre that really kicked up its audience in the last year or so.. I love what rap is becoming now as well. Beats are getting more complex and its evolving into a more serious genre, above the "drugs and money". A lot more rappers are getting serious, and some are even turning to political matters. Lupe Fiasco Released a album that was all about how fucked up the American government is at the moment. I loved every minute of that album. Eminem pretty much now dominates the whole rap genre along with little Wayne, which is fine by me, even they have showed that they are not as self absorbed as they once were. The reason I am focusing on rap is because its the genre that's starting to show a lot of maturity. Rock? well I am not much into rock so I can't speak on its behalf. Men At work still holds up though

I guess to sum it up Music has evolved to suit any one now. There is something for everyone and there is a staggering number of genre. You can get what ever you want now. Its something that shows and I am very happy to have. So much options, so little time.

 

[Blue Hero]

Wubstep is in, everything else is out. I've got a friend that listens to dubstep and says he's a big fan of classical music 'cause he listens to a few dubstep remixes of old music pieces.

The remixes are more wubstep than classic.

I don't know what this has to do with anything. I just wanted to share.

 

[Nouw]

What is happening? Mainstream is becoming more mainstream. By that I mean, it's becoming more wide-spread and popular. It's easier to access, that's all.

Look for good music and you will find it. If you don't bother, all you will get is mainstream being thrown at you from everywhere. That's what I think. Ask BonsaiK, our resident musical know-it-all!

 

[Silent Anima]

My music is fine. I know what I like and am able to find bands that fit my tastes. My tastes are also pretty wide. I like a lot of things from Art Rock to Death Metal. Atm I'm listening to a lot of Folk Metal and Hardcore/Gabber. I've ALWAYS been able to find things I like in these genres. Maybe you just need to look harder. Trust me, you can find some awesome stuff out there. ^-^

 

[Magnus]

The trouble there's a lot of people who say what I listen is rubbish because it's not comercial at all, personally I think if you are bothered to look, there's a lot of good stuff out there, The Wire magazine is a good place to start;

 

[Silent Anima]

snip

Oh gods... I tried playing Nurse With Wound at the same time as Sunn O))). It's terrifying...

 

[Phoenix Arrow]

First of all, college student in not liking the mainstream shocker.

Nothing is happening to music, stop being so silly. There's lots of shit around that you don't like? There was 10 years ago too, and the less said about the 80s the better. The fact is you're around and listening to music now. You'll hear things you want to hear. You're not going to go back and listen to music you don't like from back then and they're very unlikely to play it on the radio.

I speak from experience. For a few months, I sold used vinyl for charity. People would send me stuff and I'd list it online. The amount of dross that has passed through rectum of collective memory is amazing. So many times I'd look at something and go "...oh dear god".

So... yeah. If you want to be a music producer, get used to listening to shit bands all day. After all, every 13 year old boy who picks up a guitar for the first time thinks they could make it.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Well, it's certainly not as creative as it used to be, because artists know they can rake in the money by pumping out song-after-song with the same beat and sound.

*COUGH*ke$ha*HACKLE*

Anyway, every modern song I listen to now sounds samey and repetitive.
Give me a little variety with my UNCE-UNCE-UNCE once in a while!!

 

[Magnus]

snip

Oh gods... I tried playing Nurse With a Wound at the same time as Sunn O))). It's terrifying...

LOL,quote of the day!

 

[MellowFellow]

There is plenty of good music these days, you just have to go look for it.

 

[The Mighty Thesaurus]

Its getting awesome in my opinion. When dubsteb emerged I was hooked on that, and I think that is a genre that really kicked up its audience in the last year or so.. I love what rap is becoming now as well. Beats are getting more complex and its evolving into a more serious genre, above the "drugs and money". A lot more rappers are getting serious, and some are even turning to political matters. Lupe Fiasco Released a album that was all about how fucked up the American government is at the moment. I loved every minute of that album. Eminem pretty much now dominates the whole rap genre along with little Wayne, which is fine by me, even they have showed that they are not as self absorbed as they once were. The reason I am focusing on rap is because its the genre that's starting to show a lot of maturity. Rock? well I am not much into rock so I can't speak on its behalf. Men At work still holds up though

I guess to sum it up Music has evolved to suit any one now. There is something for everyone and there is a staggering number of genre. You can get what ever you want now. Its something that shows and I am very happy to have. So much options, so little time.

Politically charged rap is hardly new. Remember when Fear of a Black Planet was released?

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

snip

Oh gods... I tried playing Nurse With Wound at the same time as Sunn O))). It's terrifying...

Set them both to the 7 minute mark and let rip... sounds like some of Einstürzende Neubauten's more coherent tracks.